Who is it for?
Game designers, programmers, artists, 3D modeler, musicians, story writers, Superman, Batman, the creepy-looking guy in that corner! Everyone! As long as you’re interested in making video games with a team of strangers! And since you’re reading this, most likely you too!
What skills do I need to participate?
This event is not meant for professionals. But if you are, it’ll be a wonderful addition, but it’s not necessary.
There are many roles you can play in game development; a programmer, artist, modeler, game designer, musician, sound engineer, story teller, they’re just a lot! If you don’t know where you’d fit, don’t worry, you can try fill in a role you never tried before. Who knows, it might work for you (Speaking from previous events, it happened twice!)
That being said, it’ll help a lot having skills to utilize. You don’t have to be super good at them, just good enough is good enough.
You don’t have to be a super duper programmer, knowing C# and Java, for example, will be enough to know how to use Unity (Don’t worry, we’ll give you a hand!)
You don’t have to be a super duper artist. Believe me, you can do wonders with stick figures! Knowing how to trim pictures and resizing them in GIMP or Paint is so useful too!
You don’t have to be Beethoven or Van Halen. If you know how to do basic 8bit music or just trim and adjust sound effects, you’re good to go as that audio guy!
You don’t have to be Shakespeak to write a good story. Having a good idea and basic writing should be enough for a good and fun game made in a weekend!
See the pattern there? You don’t have to be super duper skilled and good at your skills. You might even discover a new hobby\skill you didn’t know you had before!
Am I limited to a set of software?
Not at all! You can use whatever software or tool you’re familiar with. However, please make sure that you have the appropriate rights to use these tools.
Here’s a list of software you could start with:
- Game engines:
- Graphics programs:
- Audio programs:
Can I use projects made before?
No, you can’t. One of this event’s purposes of this event is to make new video games following a specific theme. You can, however, you snippits and scripts that covers functions, not pre-made projects to be adjusted.
Do I have to bring my team?
Not at all! In fact, you’re encouraged not to arrive as a team to join a team of strangers. This event is to collaborate and build networks with people who want to make video games! So, no, you don’t have to form a team before joining.
Are there any special rules?
Of course there are, and here’s a list of rules in total:
- Participants must be in Kuwait.
- Participants must be physically in venue at least in the first and last day.
- Participants must not use premade projects.
- Participants may use premade scripts, snippits, and assets. However, participants must check with copyrights compatibility.
- Participants have all the rights for their projects. However, GIF Game Jam has the right to market and advertise submitted projects.
- Teams must be formed in first day of event, after ideas pitching.
- Team members can change teams until second day, 19:00 (7pm).
- A team can have three members at max.
- Participants who can’t find a team will either team together, forced to enter other teams, or have their registration revoked.
- All games must follow GIF Game Jam’s theme.
- The theme will only be revealed as scheduled.
- Organizers have the right to deny participants from participating in order to protect the event’s success.
- Organizers have the right to reject games and projects ideas to protect the event’s success.
- Organizers have the right to ban participants if they believe their participation is threatening the event’s success.